November Town Meeting starts tonight at 7:30PM and is currently scheduled to run for approximately three additional days. We’ve updated our Town Meeting member list here: https://www.readingrecap.com/town-meeting to reflect the latest election results of newly appointed and re-appointed members. In addition, there will be Precinct Elections on Monday night due to members resigning. Precinct 1 has (1 seat) Precinct 2 has (1 seat), Precinct 3 has (2 seats) and Precinct 8 has (1 seat).
Below is a quick guide you can check out that lists all the warrant items in order and here is the complete warrant book compressed from the town that was used to create the articles below: https://www.readingrecap.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-TM-Subsequent-Warrant-Report-min.pdf
Article 1
To hear and act on the reports of the Select Board, School Committee, Library Trustees, Municipal Light Board, Finance Committee, Bylaw Committee, Town Manager, Town Accountant and any other Town Official, Board or Committee.
Article 2
To choose all other necessary Town Officers and Boards or Committees and determine what instructions shall be given to Town Officers and Boards or Committees, and to see what sum the Town will vote to appropriate by borrowing or transfer from available funds, or otherwise, for the purpose of funding Town Officers and Boards or Committees to carry out the instructions given to them, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 3
To see if the Town will vote to amend the FY 2024-34 Capital Improvements Program as provided for in Section 7-7 of the Reading Home Rule Charter and as previously amended, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 4
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town’s Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2023, as adopted under Article 12 of the Annual Town Meeting of April 24, 2023; and to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow or transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to be added to the amounts appropriated under said Article, as amended, for the operation of the Town and its government, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 5
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, borrow or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay bills remaining unpaid from prior fiscal years for goods and services actually rendered to the Town, or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 6
Will be Amended – Grant not approved
To see if the Town will vote to:
(1) Raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of infrastructure improvements to the Birch Meadow Complex (the “Project”), including but not limited to, the reconstruction of a municipal parking lot, the improvement of basketball courts, the reconstruction of a children’s playground, and the resurfacing of tennis courts, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto;
Article 7
To see if the Town will take the following actions:
(1) Pursuant to G. L. c. 44, § 53E½, adopt a new revolving fund called the Solid Waste Revolving Fund, effective the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, by inserting a new Section 6.5.8 into the General Bylaws as follows:
6.5.8 Solid Waste Revolving Fund – Funds held in the Solid Waste Revolving Fund shall be used to offset the cost of curbside trash & recycling collection, disposal of solid waste, replacement toters, and any other costs associated with the administration of the trash and recycling program that arise due to the sale of second toters and overflow bags, and shall be expended by the Director of Public Works, upon the recommendation of the Town Manager. Receipts credited to this fund shall include the sale of second
toters and overflow bags for the disposal of solid waste.
(2) Raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of acquisition, management, and distribution of rubbish and recycling barrels for residences currently on the municipal rubbish program, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 8
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of a fire department rear-mount aerial “ladder truck” apparatus, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 9
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs to build a municipal parking lot on Grove Street on the property purchased by the Town, commonly referred to as Lot 5, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 10
To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow, transfer from available funds, or otherwise provide a sum or sums of money to pay the costs of roadway and sidewalk improvements, including the payment of any and all other costs incidental and related to thereto; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 11
To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Section 19K of Chapter 41 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which authorizes additional compensation for a Town Clerk who has been awarded a certificate by the Massachusetts Town Clerks’ Association as a certified Massachusetts municipal clerk, an amount equal to 10 per cent of such regular annual compensation, but not more than $1,000 per year; to qualify for such additional compensation, a Town Clerk shall submit to the Select Board proof of the award of the certificate; or take any other action with respect thereto.
Article 12
Was withdrawn at last SWEC meeting
To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the Reading Ice Arena Funds Account 4715 a sum or sums of money not to exceed $200,000 to pay to build eight (8) temporary, outdoor pickleball courts on the land adjacent to the Burbank Ice Arena off Symonds way, subject to successful negotiations of lease with the Burbank Ice Arena Authority and obtaining any required permits, or take any other action with respect thereto.
